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Understanding the Assessment of Your IB Individual Oral (IO)

K
Krish Mohanani Daswani
••6 min read

As you prepare for your IB Individual Oral (IO), it's essential to understand how and by whom your work will be assessed. Knowing this can help you focus your preparation and ensure you meet the necessary standards. Let's delve into the assessment process for the IO in both the IB Language and Literature and Literature courses.

Overview of the IB Individual Oral (IO)

What is the IO?

The IO is an internal assessment that forms a significant part of the IB Language and Literature and Literature courses. It involves presenting an analysis of selected texts through the lens of a global issue, followed by a question-and-answer session with your teacher.

Assessment of the IO

Internal Assessment

Primary Marking:

  • Teacher's Role: Your IO will be assessed internally by your IB teacher. They will evaluate your performance based on the IB assessment criteria.
  • Criteria: Your teacher will assess your IO using specific criteria provided by the IB, which include knowledge and understanding of texts, analysis and evaluation, focus and organization, and language use.

External Moderation

Moderation Process:

  • Sample Selection: After your teacher has assessed your IO, a sample of recordings from your class will be selected for moderation by external IB examiners. This sample typically includes work from a range of grades to ensure fairness.
  • Purpose of Moderation: The purpose of external moderation is to ensure that the marking standards are consistent across all IB schools worldwide. The IB examiners review the samples to verify that the internal assessments are in line with IB standards.

Moderation Impact:

  • Adjustments: If the IB examiners find that the internal marking is not consistent with IB standards, they may adjust the marks for all students in your class. This means your final grade could be slightly higher or lower than the original mark given by your teacher, depending on the moderation outcome.

Why Understanding the Assessment Process Matters

Focused Preparation

Knowing that your teacher will be the primary assessor, but that external moderation will also play a role, can help you prepare more effectively:

  • Understand Criteria: Familiarize yourself with the IB assessment criteria. Focus your preparation on meeting these criteria.
  • Practice with Feedback: Since your teacher will be the one assessing you, seek their feedback during your preparation. This can help you align your performance with their expectations and the IB criteria.

Consistency and Fairness

Understanding the role of external moderation can reassure you that the assessment process aims to be fair and consistent:

  • Confidence in Fairness: External moderation ensures that your performance is judged fairly compared to students worldwide. This consistency helps maintain the integrity of the IB Diploma Programme.

Tips for Excelling in Your IO

Preparation

  1. Choose Strong Texts and Global Issues: Select texts that are rich in themes and literary techniques related to your global issue. Ensure your global issue is specific enough for focused analysis.
  2. Deep Analysis: Perform close readings of your texts. Identify key literary features and understand their significance within the context of the global issue.
  3. Practice: Practice delivering your oral presentation multiple times. Record yourself to identify areas for improvement and seek feedback from your teacher.

Presentation

  1. Clarity and Confidence: Speak clearly and confidently. Make sure your arguments are easy to follow.
  2. Engage the Examiner: Use eye contact and vary your tone to keep the examiner engaged.
  3. Time Management: Ensure you stick to the time limits. Practice pacing your presentation to cover all points within the allotted time.

Content

  1. Depth of Analysis: Provide deep, insightful commentary on the texts and the global issue.
  2. Use of Evidence: Support your points with specific examples and quotations from the extracts.
  3. Literary Terminology: Use appropriate literary terminology to demonstrate your understanding of the texts.

Mastering the IO Assessment

The IB Individual Oral is a crucial component of your Language and Literature or Literature course. By understanding the assessment process and focusing your preparation accordingly, you can deliver a compelling and insightful oral presentation that meets IB standards.

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